And Coach Switzer must have had a crystal ball or something because the week before the Miami game was the first time I got some reps running the first-team offense. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. They would take me with them to scout other teams, so Id sit in the stands, study what the other team was doing, then wed go back to the coaches houses and break the film down to figure out the best way to attack them. Clad in his original Oklahoma road-white 1986 Orange Bowl jersey which was used just for a bowl week photo opportunity as the Sooners wore their crimson jerseys in the game that year Holieway gathered before the scrimmage at midfield with all of the other former players as Venables spoke passionately about their importance to the program. Youre not moving like you used to.. Holieway and Oklahoma had national title aspirations again in 1986, but a road loss to Miami in the third game of the season kept the Sooners outside the title chase for the duration of the season. I dont care if there are no ticks on the clock and it is the last Hail Mary, we have to think that we are going to win that. Hurts has won over the Crimson Tide the same way Holieway won the Sooners over - by handling business in big game after big game. NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Jamelle Holieway dazzled the college football world as a true freshman who mastered Oklahoma's dynamic wishbone attack and led the Sooners to the 1985 national championship. Thx Randall in Topeka. I wrote about Holieways quest in the Sunday Oklahoman. His electrifying 43-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave the Sooners a 14-0 lead, which eventually ballooned to 27-0 after Holieways second scoring scamper from 17 yards out in the third frame. (Photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images), I was playing against my best friend, Leroy Holt, who was a starting fullback for USC, Holieway said. So we've got three things going.''. At Oklahoma, he took over for an injured Troy Aikman in his freshman year in the Miami game when Jerome Brown and Dan Sileo broke Aikman's leg. Holieway tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee in a game versus the Oklahoma State Cowboys on November 7, 1987. I am like, That must be a cool-ass coach because he is letting these individual people be individuals, but they are still playing good football on the field.. I scooped it up and ran after him. Crooks favorite guy. And suddenly, an 18-year-old freshman from Los Angeles was the all-Big 8 quarterback and tasked with fulfilling his teams preseason No. He feels a connection to Hurts, yet they've never met and he wondered if Hurts even knows who he was. Five plays later, following an Oklahoma time out, Holieway threw to the goal line to tight end Keith Jackson for a 17-yard touchdown. Keith Jacksons TD in the 85 natty was a thing of beauty. I am playing with grown men that have babies. Jamelle Holieway dazzled the college football world as a true freshman who mastered Oklahoma's dynamic wishbone attack and led the Sooners to the 1985 national championship. Twenty-seven years after quarterbacking OU to the national championship, 24 years after quarterbacking his final Sooner game, Holieway remains relevant. Always been the same. Those are good times.. There are a lot of people out there pulling for him and other former players. For 33 years, he held the distinction of being the only true freshman starting quarterback in the history of the game to lead his team to a national title. He is having some very serious heart issues right now. And three, black. That is when Holieway engineered a play that will be remembered forever in Oklahoma history. When you see him start scooting over, you better change the play to Y Go. Finding info on his life after the Sooners is difficult; many sources mispell his name "Holloway" instead of "Holieway," and there is just not a lot info on the internet from those pre-www days. He sat out this year's spring practice, however, because he broke his right thumb on St. Patrick's Day. Hes made a name for himself in this state., A name both good and bad. Son, would you like to come to practice this week and run the scout team for me? After one game, while waiting by the ramp in the arenas garage where the players parked their cars, he came face-to-face with one of his idols and the man who would later come to symbolize that flashy substance of the L.A. athletic aesthetic, a rookie from Lansing, Michigan who was fresh off of winning the National Championship at Michigan State University by the name of Earvin Magic Johnson. 1 and won its first eight games, which set up a Bedlam matchup against No. Post author: Post published: April 2, 2023 Post category: what did the kickapoo tribe believe in Post comments: where can i cash a check from edward jones where can i cash a check from edward jones It was the days of the Grapes of Wrath, Switzer told Sports Illustrated in 1986. Just get in where you fit in. How about an update on Dexter or Hart Lee? He was by far the best wishbone quarterback every to play the game. Switzers background was unique, and his rapport with African-American playersunequaled. People say he cant play QBhe is from los Angeles like Jamelle and about the same size..well im gona but him in the option bone and I formation and see what people think then. Miami defeated Oklahoma 20-14 to win the national championship. He is atleast Vicks equal if not better. That is when reality set in, Holieway said. People from all over will come by just to say hello because they know that I am in town. Regardless of how his life has gone in the days since his Sooner glory, Jamelle Holieway should always be remembered as one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. ''Now, because of the parity, because of the equality across the board - back then, you might have had six powerhouses. 1 Nebraska. But with Penn State leading in the second quarter, 7-3, and Oklahoma facing a 3rd down and 24 yards to go from its own 29-yard-line, Holieway made his mark. Growing up in the heart of Sooner country, I remember idolizing a few football players: Tony Dorsett and Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys, and Jamelle Holieway, who quarterbacked the University of Oklahoma to the National Championship at the Orange Bowl in 1986 (according to Wikipedia, the only true freshman to have ever done so -- he still holds this distinction) and to another Orange Bowl win in 1987 (though it was not the championship game that year). Jamelle Holieway (born June 25, 1967) is an American former college and professional football player who was a quarterback for the University of Oklahoma.He led the Oklahoma Sooners to a national championship in 1985.. Jamelle Holieway is considered one of the greatest option quarterbacks in NCAA Division I-A history. That is how you are supposed to move the team down the field. And when my coach told me that, I knew then, OK, it is not all about what the crowd is saying. And this one was pretty good, but man, do you ever read what you've written before hitting the "send" or "submit" button?? That was the one and only time that Coach Switzer ever lied to me, said Holieway. He is the former OU quarterback, the wishbone legend, and in 1985, he became the first true freshman since at least the leather-helmet days to quarterback a team to a national title. The flashy, charismatic and likeable true freshman from Los Angeles was jabbering away and running his mouth. Former University of Oklahoma quarterback Jamelle Holieway and a female companion were arrested Sunday afternoon on a complaint of shoplifting at a Wal-Mart Supercenter in McAlester. Switzer was the son of a bootlegger who grew up in rural Crossett, Arkansas. We have estimated Jamelle Holieway's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets. Maybe Holieway felt invincible in Oklahoma. Aikmans main target in the passing game was Keith Jackson, the best tight end in the country. Holieway's favorite moment of the 1985 season came in the Orange Bowl, when he tossed a perfect, 71-yard touchdown strike to Keith Jackson that gave Oklahoma a lead over the Nittany Lions for good. My foot went inside the turf and it slid, so it just took all of the traction out of the bottom. But with 9:18 remaining in the half, everything changed in an instant. Just as he predicted, the colleges came calling. He was like, If the defense does this, what do you do? This is his home, Holt said. Another one of the great plays in #Sooners history. I wanted the ball in my hand, Holieway said. Your email address will not be published. The rest is history. Holieway had professional opportunities with the Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL, the CFLs British Columbia Lions and an American football league in Spain before he finally hung up the pads for good. Who is the greatest freshman Sooner of all time? He was the first quarterback I'm aware of in the Michael Vick style, where his pure athleticism and the threat that the quarterback would suddenly turn into a running back completely changed the game for the defense. I dont care who is the coach, we know we put on that crimson and cream. I was paying attention to what was going on in the game, but I didnt know that Troy got hurt. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He seems well and happy.has a baby due in March. He used his flash-and-dash moves to become the leader of Oklahoma's vaunted rushing attack after someone else's injury put him in charge . But with 6:13 to go in the game, Holieway sprinted to the left on a quarterback keeper, was tackled and immediately bounced back up to try and walk off some knee pain. So by the time I jogged into the huddle, I couldnt help but be prepared. The decision proved wise. So my father came home and had to find a way to feed his family. One night in LA, I went to dinner with Holieway, OU recruiter Scott Hill and booster Jay Thomas, back when recruiting dinners were allowed and media illumination was encouraged. The Trojans defeated the Sooners 23-7. But I believe he wants to. Johnson andSwitzer once worked together as assistants at Oklahoma in the early 1970s and Jimmy later coached at in-state rival Oklahoma State, where he was winless in five tries against Switzers powerhouse Sooner program. So we got a couple of national championships in our family when we get together for a family reunion.. When he got to Banning High School, he decided to keep playing on his recreation league team in Inglewood as opposed to playing on the schools junior varsity squad. Holieway dazzled the college football world as a true freshman who mastered Oklahoma's dynamic wishbone attack and led the Sooners to the 1985 national championship. I'm asking all my prayer warriors to please say a prayer for former OU quarterback Jamelle Holieway. I knew that it was a national-televised game, Holieway said. Holieways chauffeur duties extended from the golf cart to the car that shuffled Switzer from one bowl week commitment to another. Ultimately, Holieway whittled his list of suitors down to Colorado, Oklahoma, and the hometown school, Southern California. The win returned the Sooners to the top of the rankings and set the stage for another Orange Bowl matchup, this time against No. And it was really exciting to me because all of my buddies on the JV were cheering for me. 22, scoot over and start coming down and I just said, Red, red, Y Go, Y Go and that means, (Oklahoma tight end) Keith (Jackson), go run as fast as you can down the middle of the field and I am going to throw it as far as I can and hopefully we connect. That is how that play came about., 88 days until Sooner football. I loved it because when they talked about Michael Vick, Jamelle Holieways name got brought up, Holieway said. I was mad at myself when he pulled off because I was so excited, I forgot toask him for his autograph. After Testaverde lofted a beautiful 55-yard pass to a streaking Michael Irvin for the games first score midway through the first quarter, Aikman engineered an 89-yard drive that was highlighted by his 50-yard pass to Keith Jackson. Jamelle Holieway. The injury plagued Holieway for the remainder of the 1988 season, and he eventually lost his starting job to Charles Thompson. Hed considered many other schools, including Oregon, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Colorado. Coach Switzer would always sit there and say, You have got to believe that you are going to win,' Holieway said. Jamelle Holieway sits on the edge of the couch in . From that point forward, henever came out of the starting lineup. #Gatewood @GotBoz44 #EddieWally #1987OUNeb @Barry_Switzer @SpenceTillman @EarlJoh26055677 pic.twitter.com/hTzhvYx5id, Wallis Marsh (@WallisMarsh) August 30, 2022. Holieways mother, Charlie Mae Evans, worked three jobs to support him when he was growing up in South Central Los Angeles. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports. In a matter of four minutes of game time, the stunned Nebraska crowd had gone from sensing victory to settling for a tie to a shocking defeat. Hed eventually go down in history as one of the best to ever play the position. Wish Jamelle the best - what's the latest on E Mitchell? When the starter returned from his injury the next week, he was moved to wide receiver. But during his recruitment, USC told him that they didnt want him as a quarterback or running back. So you can basically weed them out and figure out who's going to win the national championship. Thats probably where all my moves first came from. This is how long we have to practice.'. For some reason that I do not know, he played some games with a total amateur team (Panteras de Madrid). He said, Yall see Holieway? I just left high school and now were on TV? 1 expectations by completing the quest for a national championship. My team was so good, we were better than the JV team at my school, said Holieway. Holieway came into the season projected to be the Sooners fourth quarterback on the depth chart. I was pretty nifty, so I used that to my advantage when my mother was chasing after me and trying to whup me if I did something bad, said Holieway. My foot got stuck in the turf in the season where they sewed it together, Holieway said. Amid that backdrop, Charlie Mae tried her best to provide Jamelle with a moral compass and elevated sense of self-esteem that would negate the allure of the gangs. I got to run first-team offense with Troy right there. But maybe thats part of the problem. You couldnt make that pivotal mistake. Barry Layne Switzer (born October 5, 1937) is a former American football coach and player. I am always the last one on the bus, Holieway said. It really does when you're playing sports.''. When they talked about Tua (Tagovailoa) in 2017, Jamelle Holieways name got brought up. Far better: "Holieway obviously lived in the fast lane, even back then." That accomplishment is underrated in Sooner Lore. ''It's amazing that he's a true freshman. Let me tell you what really sparked everything, Holieway said. 2 Nebraska 27-7 in Norman, then beat Oklahoma State and SMU to position themselves for a shot at the title on New Year's Day. Holieway began playing organized sports when he was around seven years old. Jamelle Holieway was a 18 Year old True Freshman who answered the call and led OU to a National Championship. The face mask on fourth down on the short side of the field where Broderick Thomas grabbed by face mask. We will get together once a year in September, but not this year, at my moms house, and when people know that I am coming into town, we will have a five-day party. And shed tell me things like, You dont need to go in that area over there, thats a bad area. The flashy, charismatic and likeable true freshman from Los Angeles was jabbering away and . It was the first time that hed ever seen snow. We have got to make it hit. Holieway was not interested. However, it looks like he has worked as a sales rep for an insurance company in Oklahoma -- and unfortunately has been arrested multiple times: in Eufaula, OK in 2007 on marijuana possession, (and possibly DUI since he was apparently driving and smoking at the time), November 2008 in Pontotoc County, OK for driving on a suspended license, and in 2009 in McAlester, OK for petty larceny and outstanding fines and warrants. "Holieway obviously was a liver in the fast lane, even back then. Middle class blacks scattered as well and in the early 1970s, the areas manufacturing base began an abrupt decline. A native of Carson, California, Holieway convinced his mother, Charlie Mae Harris, to move into a school district that would allow him to play football at Phineas Banning High School in Wilmington, Calif., for Coach Chris Ferragamo. He served for 16 years as head football coach at the University of Oklahoma and four years as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Holieway graduated with a 31-3 record as a starter, was a two-time all-Big 8 quarterback and totaled over 5,000 total yards (2,713 rushing, 2,430 passing). About a month ago he found out that he had a heart attack at some time. If I could play Miami every game, me personally, I would have played them every game. In order for that bowl matchup to have national championship implications, the Sooners would have to defeat both Oklahoma State on the road and SMU in the home finale. 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